Apple's iPhone sales topped 9 million over the weekend in what the company called "our best iPhone launch yet."

Over the last three days, Apple sold a combined 9 million iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C units, the company announced Monday. Apple didn't break out specific sales numbers for the high-end 5S versus the colorful 5C, but did say that the combined unit sales set a launch-weekend record. Apple is also sold out of its initial iPhone 5S supply.

"The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5S, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly," Apple CEO Tim Cook said Monday in a statement. "We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone."

In addition to announcing iPhone sales, Apple said Monday that more than 200 million devices are now running iOS 7 -- the company's latest mobile operating system. Apple says that makes iOS 7 the fastest software upgrade in history, confirming a trend spotted last week by advertising and Web analytics firm Chitika.

Although Apple wouldn't say Monday how its iPhone sales split between the two new models, others have already chimed in. Earlier in the day, mobile analytics firm Localytics said that its data analysis indicates that iPhone 5S activations were three times greater than those of the iPhone 5C over the weekend. AT&T proved the most popular carrier among U.S.-based consumers, according to the firm.

Apple's shares are up 4.4 percent since the company announced the news this morning.

About the author

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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